New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera is expected to announce Saturday that he will retire after the coming season. The ensuing months will be filled with bows and farewells, cheers and standing ovations, and, at the end, one final tip of the cap -- a fitting close for the greatest closer of all time.

Debates on that front ceased a long time ago. Rivera, 43, will leave the game as its all-time saves leader and a five-time World Series winner (six, if the crumbling Yankees somehow pull off the impossible). He has more postseason saves than the combined total of the next two on the list, Brad Lidge and Dennis Eckersley.

With Rivera's legacy as the greatest already secured, now seems an appropriate time to compare him to former San Diego Padre Trevor Hoffman, second on the all-time saves list:

Career stats: In 2010 Hoffman retired with 601 saves, then the all-time record. Rivera surpassed him the next season and currently sits at 608. Rivera's career ERA of 2.21 is virtually unmatched among pitchers who have thrown more than 1,000 innings (Eddie Cicotte's 2.20 is No. 1). Hoffman's 2.87 ERA puts him among the elite, if not in Rivera's halo.

Postseason performance: Hoffman recorded four saves in only 13 innings for the Padres, who rarely made the playoffs during his career. Through 141 innings, Rivera holds the all-time record for lowest postseason career ERA (0.70). His 42 saves are another all-time best.

Awards: Rivera is a 12-time All-Star and the only reliever to win both an LCS MVP award and a World Series MVP award. Hoffman was a seven-time All-Star.

Trademark pitch: Rivera's cut fastball might be the most dominant pitch in the game's history. Hoffman's changeup is merely the best of its generation.

Entrance song: "Hells Bells" for Hoffman. "Enter Sandman" for Rivera.

Projected HOF induction: These two are shoo-ins. Hoffman becomes eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2016. Rivera will be enshrined in 2018. Only five relievers have been inducted.